Architectural Legacy of Mewar-II

Other buildings of City Palace such as Ganesh
Deodhi, Badi Pol and Amar Mahal were made under Rana Amar Singh I (1597-1620).
The interior and exterior of Amar Mahal reverberate with the architectural
vocabulary of prehistoric Mewar palaces at Kumbhalgarh and Chittor. Arched and
corbelled stone ceilings, stone carved temple type columns, gokhdas (projected
window) with inclined parapets and intricately carved niche are the salient
features of this marvelous construction.

However, several structures in the Udaipur Palace
complex were built by Rana Karan Singh (1620-1628). During his short reign,
Rana Karan Singh added twelve structures in the Udaipur palace complex along
with the beginning city walls and gates. These included Mor Chowk, Manak Chowk,
Ganesh Chowk, Sabha Shiromani ka darikhana or assembly hall, Moti Mahal,
Chandra Mahal, Kanch ki Burj and Chitram ki Burj, Karan Mahal, Manek Mahal,
Laxmi Chowk in Zenana Mahal, Toran Pol, Suraj Pol and the renowned Jag Mandir. The
palace was started by Maharana Amar Singh, continued by Maharana Karan Singh
and completed by Maharana Jagat Singh I. Jag Mandir was used as a delight
palace for the summers.

While, the Manak Chowk was an enclosure for a public spectator for the Udaipur rulers and
for Elephant and Horse Parade. Moti Chowk was an integral court of the palace
acting as an entrance courtyard to the Zenana Mahal. Mor Chowk was for special
audiences, modelled in high relief, three peacocks crafted with 5000 pieces of
glass were later added to the Mor Chowk during Maharana Sajjan Singh’s reign
(1874-1884).

Adding to the grandeur of this great structure,
Maharana Amar Singh II (1698-1710) further added Amar Vilas or Badi Mahal, and
Maharana Sangram Singh II (1710-1734) added Tripoliya Gate to the complex
during his rule.

Inheriting the artistic sense of design and beauty
through their ancestry, the structures of Mewar through ages witnessed the
legacy of architectural magnificence. Be
its forts, palaces or monumental structures; with profuse structures to boast
of, Mewar is a royal heritage in itself.